SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5350

              As Passed Senate, January 19, 1996

Title:  An act relating to counties' powers over family day‑care providers.

Brief Description:  Providing for counties' powers over family day‑care providers.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Wojahn, Winsley, Haugen, McCaslin, Drew and Kohl).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  2/1/95, 2/7/95 [DPS]; 1/10/96 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/7/95, 45-4; 1/19/96, 38-6.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Goings, Hale, Heavey, McCaslin and Winsley.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  In 1994, the Legislature prohibited cities from denying the use of a residential dwelling, located in an area zoned for residential or commercial use, as a family day-care provider's home facility (12 children or less).  Counties may still deny this use of a residential dwelling.

The Department of Licensing certifies that a family day-care facility is providing a safe passenger-loading area.

Summary of Bill:  Counties may not deny the use of a residential dwelling, located in an area zoned for residential or commercial use, as a family day-care provider's home facility.

Some of the conditions counties are allowed to place on these facilities are:  compliance with building, safety, and health codes; building size, setbacks, and the like; certification of a safe loading area by the state Office of Child Care Policy Licensor; signage; and limitation of hours.  However, nonstandard hours must be allowed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This just puts the same conditions on counties as were put on cities.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Julie Nelson, WA State Family Child Care Assn. (pro); Debby Hyde, Pierce County Planning (pro).